Stories from Madrid · Spain

A fire in the Villaverde district last night resulted in the death of one person and an injury to a firefighter. Madrid firefighters reported that the intervention was conducted with fewer personnel than required by internal procedures. The incident has led to demonstrations by firefighters regarding a lack of resources.

The Mayor of Madrid announced during a plenary session that the city council will appeal a judicial decision to annul the local trash tax. The demand follows reports of insufficient resources within the fire department. One person died and a firefighter sustained burns in a recent incident, according to the report. Opponents, including Martínez Almeida, argue the tax disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. Comparisons show the minimum waste tax in Barcelona is 95% higher than the minimum in Madrid. The Madrid City Council will appeal a ruling by the Madrid High Court of Justice that annulled the city's trash tax. The mayor asserted the council must defend the work of municipal officials regarding the ordinance's processing. The council stated that no money will be returned to taxpayers at this time.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has reached out to the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) following recent disagreements. Sánchez told the PNV spokesperson in Congress that he wishes to continue counting on their support.

An autopsy of Isaac Andig, the founder of Mango, found no injuries consistent with an attempt to break a fall. Andig died following a fall during a mountain excursion while accompanied by his son.

Spain is projected to lose over 600,000 students in the next decade. The decline will primarily impact primary and secondary school classrooms in Madrid and Catalonia.

An investigation is examining allegations that a minister received 10,000 euros per month. A witness has confessed to being part of a four-person group involved in illegal dealings. The witness claimed that former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and former advisor Cóldo García were involved in schemes. Specifically, the witness alleged that bribes of up to 250,000 euros in cash were provided to Ábalos for contract adjudications and financing the Socialist Party. Total payments reached 1.8 million euros between 2019 and 2021. The payments were allegedly supplemented by in-kind benefits including houses, trips, and other services to ensure the minister continued opening doors within central and regional administrations. The source stated these actions were intended to keep the minister bribed.

A long statement made two days ago alleged that a ringleader of a scheme paid a minister 10,000 euros per month to influence their decisions. The source noted that the individual allegedly bought the minister's will for that amount.

The Supreme Court is expected to deliberate and draft a sentence following the submission of final reports. A minimum wait of one month is anticipated, with a potential ruling occurring around or shortly after the summer.

Naturgy and electrical grid operator Redeia announced improved financial results this morning. Naturgy reported an 11 percent increase in profits. Redeia reported a 10 percent increase in profits compared to the first quarter of last year.

Inflation in Spain decreased by 0.2 percentage points in April to reach 3.2 percent. Core inflation, which excludes energy and food, stands at 2.8%. Economist Javier Santa Cruz noted that Spanish prices continue to rise above the Eurozone average. The rise is attributed to increasing structural costs, specifically labor. A negative contribution from electricity prices has slightly moderated the overall increase. The number of young people in Spain identifying as Catholic has increased by nearly 15 points. Religion has reached its highest level of importance in the historical series. The study indicates religion remains a primary support during difficult life moments and decision-making processes. Only one in four respondents would consider losing friendships to defend their religious views. April prices in Spain rose by 3.2 percent according to the advanced IPC indicator.